Joaquin Rodriguez wins eighth stage and takes overall lead in Vuelta a Espana – Cycling Update
Katusha team’s Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver showed a tremendous performance in the eighth stage of Vuelta a Espana 2011 on Saturday, August 27. He also took the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Talavera de la Reina and ended in San Loren de El Escorial. The 32-year-old Spanish cyclists took the total of 4 hours, 49 minutes and 1 second to cover the distance of 183 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Rodriguez said, “It was useful to know the course, I came to reconnoitre it in July with Dani Moreno who lives nearby and it has helped me to win. I knew where to impose my rhythm, where to sit on the bike on the false flats and
where to accelerate again.”
Michele Scarponi of Lampre – ISD was runner-up with 9 seconds down to Spanish while Bauke Mollema of Rabobank cycling was in third place ahead of Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto).
After the 25 kilometres to go, the two cyclists including, Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Cervélo) and Matteo Montaguti (AG2R-La Mondiale) made their way off and gained a lead of 1 minute and 10 seconds behind Julien Fourchard and Adrian Palomares.
In the final 28 kilometres, the gap still remained and the duo got away from the others. Reim Taaramae tried his luck in the final 10 kilometres and was joined by four cyclists including, Angel Madrazo (Movistar), David Moncoutié, Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
and Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM).
Adrian Palomares Villaplana of Andalucia Caja Granada took the first and second sprint of the stage. However, the trio worked well together and Taaramae made a solo move in the last three kilometres. Scarponi increased his pace and was followed by Oliver.
The Italian tried his best to take a lead but failed and Oliver crossed the finish line ahead of the other riders.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) and Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) were in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively.
He further added, “I knew before the Vuelta that I have to gain a maximum of time bonuses and I target them on the uphill finishes because I’m aware that I’ll lose a lot of time on Monday to riders like Bradley Wiggins and Janez Brajkovic.”
Rodriguez Oliver took the overall standing with the timing of 32 hours, 18 minutes and 16 seconds while Daniel Moreno Fernandez was runner-up with 32 seconds down to Spanish.
Leopard Trek team’s Jakob Fuglsang finished third with the difference of 34 seconds ahead of Nibali and Scarponi. Fernandez took the overall mountain standing with 20 points ahead of Montaguti.
The next stages run in Villacastín and finished in Sierra de Bejar. La Covatilla. All the cyclists cover the distance of 179.5 kilometres.
Tags: